UNITE HERE In The News

Congress Hotel workers mark sixth anniversary of strike

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Chi Town Daily News--Hundreds of protesters marked the sixth anniversary of a strike over labor conditions at The Congress Plaza Hotel and Convention Center on Monday, stretching a picket line down a block-long stretch of South Michigan Avenue. On June 15, 2003, almost six months after their contracts expired, workers at the Congress Hotel went on strike. Union organizers say hotel management cut wages, stopped paying employee health-care premiums and demanded the right to subcontract its unionized workforce. The rally was both a celebration of the strike's persistence and a lament of stalled negotiations with hotel owners and representatives. Among the strikers' supporters were Gov. Pat Quinn, state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and aldermen Bob Fioretti and Ricardo Munoz. Each was present and spoke at the protest. "This hotel has not treated its workers right" Quinn yelled from a podium between Michigan Avenue traffic and the hotel's lower east floors. "We will have justice."

Labor will rebuild middle class

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

UNITE HERE President Wilhelm, interviewed by the Las Vegas Sun at the Culinary Union, says the battle between UNITE HERE and SEIU will determine the future of the American labor movement: "What’s going on in the labor movement is a necessary reexamination of what the vision should be in this country for working people. When there is no hope on the political horizon, institutions like labor don’t grapple with what we’re really about. But when there is a political opportunity created by the hard work of a lot of people, including our members here in Las Vegas, then it’s necessary to grapple with how we structure ourselves to try to capitalize on that opportunity, to create better lives for the people who are the backbone of this country... "I think there’s a hunger in this country to re-create the middle class dream. The labor movement has got to retool itself and present itself as the primary tool for doing that."

Labor Movement Backs UNITE HERE Against SEIU Raids

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

In a dramatic blow to SEIU's efforts to raid UNITE HERE members and jurisdictions, 15 of the nation’s leading unions pledged Monday to provide the union with "material and moral" support.

Unite Here Convention Elects President and Passes Union Democracy Platform

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Chicago - In the second day of Unite Here's convention, delegates from across the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada elected John Wilhelm as the union's President.

Labor Movement Rallies Around Unite Here

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Chicago - Today, Unite Here opened its constitutional convention with an outpouring of support from the labor movement.

As Labor Faces Turning Point, Unite Here National Convention Opens

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

by Randy Shaw

UNITE HERE, best known for its Hotel Workers Rising campaign and successful organizing of the nation's gaming industry, opens its national convention in Chicago today.

Indianapolis hotel workers unite

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

When President Barack Obama spoke at the Westin last month, the downtown hotel's former doorman, William Selm, received a special invitation to attend.